THE SHARK IS BROKEN Previews- Page 4

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/4/23 at 10:57pm

Caught this at the very last minute tonight and I can say I was somewhat entertained but not overly impressed.

It plays out in a series of “behind the scenes” vignettes that just seemed to be based on a compilation of anecdotes tied together with the thread of “this is only happening because the shark is broken and we’re trying to kill time”. The interplay between Shaw and Dreyfuss feels like it’s own version of Mamet’s “A Life In The Theatre” (beleaguered veteran vs. cocky upstart) and Scheider feels relegated to the role of part referee/part news bulletin/part trivia nerd. Also, the very hacky jokes that jokingly foreshadow the times we live in (corrupt presidents, climate change, the loss of original IP) seemed to be done with a heavy wink and nod that I thought someone was gonna break the fourth wall.

I will say that all three performances were pitch perfect though down to the idiosyncrasies and mannerisms. Donnell has Scheider’s cadence and grounded body language down and it’s remarkably freaky how Ian Shaw can look and sound just like his father. However, Brightman steals the show (albeit that is tantamount to petty theft) by blending Dreyfuss’ cocksure attitude, diva behavior, and drug-fueled mania with his own brand of energetic physical and comedic delivery. His scene impersonating his costars was PERFECT and it made me think what he could do if he played all three characters at once. 

Overall, I give this a 2.5/5. Great performances can’t mask that more than the shark is broken here…

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/4/23 at 11:44pm

Also, for the curious, Shaw and Donnell signed at the stage door. Brightman came out said hello to everyone and thank everyone, but didn’t sign. (Poor guy looked exhausted and I could totally see it)

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 12:22am

JSquared2 said:  "The NYS Tax Credit (assuming it is approved) takes approximately 2 years to be processed and returned to the entity. In the meantime, the producers have to raise the entire capitalization and present the recoupment chart to potential investors with the assumption that the tax credit is NOT given --- and getting it will just be gravy 2 years later."

It does not take two years to be processed, again no clue what you are talking about 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 12:25am

This was good, but not great but there were moment that hinted at greatness.  The biggest oblem lies in the writing...there just isn't much there. Its more like a slice of life type play. 

 

Shaw's first entrance really does take your breath away due to the amazing doppelganger he is to his father....and I was still affected even having seen pix and videos.

 

I'm a big fan of Jaws, so I'm pretty content having seen this.  

Updated On: 8/5/23 at 12:25 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 6:26am

I'm one of the few people on this planet who has never seen Jaws. However, my friend got us tickets for this next week. Does enjoying/understanding/appreciating this play rely on having seen Jaws? Just trying to decide if I should try and watch the film before seeing this Tuesday night.

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 6:49am

bwayphreak234 said: "I'm one of the few people on this planet who has never seen Jaws. However, my friend got us tickets for this next week. Does enjoying/understanding/appreciating this play rely on having seen Jaws? Just trying to decide if I should try and watch the film before seeing this Tuesday night."

I think so. I’ve never seen Jaws and I believe if I had I would have enjoyed the show more. I was immensely bored for most of the show. However, I saw on Reddit someone commented they had seen Jaws and was still bored. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 7:07am

bwayphreak234 said: "I'm one of the few people on this planet who has never seen Jaws. However, my friend got us tickets for this next week. Does enjoying/understanding/appreciating this play rely on having seen Jaws? Just trying to decide if I should try and watch the film before seeing this Tuesday night."

I recommend watching the film as not only is it now a masterpiece of cinema but it also underlines the relationship between Dreyfuff and Shaw's characters of Hooper and Quint in the film but it also mirrors their real-life relationship at the time the film was in production.  You can also find on YouTube several documentaries about the making of the film, which had a rough production and not just because the mechanical shark didn't work 99% so Spielberg had to rethink a lot of the film on a daily basis, which is what helped turn the film into the classic it is today. Knowing a bit of the backstory of the making of the film will help you enormously with what happens in this play.  

 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 8:17am

Thanks so much, Penguin and Brody! I will have to watch it this weekend.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 9:31am

And while I enjoyed this, I cant see how anyone that hadnt seen the film would have any chance of getting this. At all.

 

To whomever mentioned audience behavior, I had no problems at the performance I attended...aside from a single phone going off.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 10:37am

This show is already papering. Will it sink as quickly as the Orca? 

[Jumpin_J]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 10:52am

bwayphreak234 said: "I'm one of the few people on this planet who has never seen Jaws. However, my friend got us tickets for this next week. Does enjoying/understanding/appreciating this play rely on having seen Jaws? Just trying to decide if I should try and watch the film before seeing this Tuesday night."

Not at all! Does it help? Sure, maybe a little. But the play is less about the movie than these guys being stuck on a boat without trying to kill each other from driving each other crazy. 

[Jumpin_J]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 10:56am

dramamama611 said: "And while I enjoyed this, I cant see how anyone that hadnt seen the film would have any chance of getting this. At all.
 

Really? Why? It's not about THE movie. It's about three guys, two established actors (Shaw & Scheider) and a newbie (Dreyfus) stuck on a boat driving each other nuts trying to finish a movie that they all agree could be a disaster. The plot of the movie hardly plays into it. A shark terrorizes local beach town. That's all you need to know before seeing the play. 

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 12:39pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "This show is already papering. Will it sink as quickly as the Orca?"

I think we should wait until it actually opens first to prognosticate.

Its only a limited run and starting at the end of the summer, so who knows what Fall will bring

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/5/23 at 2:12pm

Jumpin_J said: "dramamama611 said: "And while I enjoyed this, I cant see how anyone that hadnt seen the film would have any chance of getting this. At all.


Really? Why? It's not about THE movie. It's about three guys, two established actors (Shaw & Scheider) and a newbie (Dreyfus) stuck on a boat driving each other nuts trying to finish a movie that they all agree could be a disaster. The plot of the movie hardly plays into it. A shark terrorizes local beach town. That's all you need to know before seeing the play.

"

Technically, I dont disagree with you...its not so much not understanding as it is not being invested.  I think its the connections TO the movie and characters that brings the charm.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/9/23 at 8:51am

Caught this last night, and, sadly, I did not get a chance to watch JAWS before. I definitely think I would have enjoyed this more if I had seen the film. That being said, I still got the gist of the play, and appreciated the three tremendous performances from Alex Brightman, Collin Donnell, and Ian Shaw. They're doing great work up on that stage, and have great chemistry.

The play is very slice of life and there's not a lot to it. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would (mainly because of the great performances), but all in all just a bit of a "shrug" for me.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 8/9/23 at 5:44pm

Today is the day I learned that some people have never seen Jaws. 

[lapinitsa]

Posted: 8/9/23 at 7:15pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Today is the day I learned that some people have never seen Jaws."

I'd laugh but the revelation made me feel sad, i.e. old.